Clive Palmer says Lazarus "spat the dummy" over wife's job

Mark Furler is APN Australian Regional Media’s group digital editor. He’s an award-winning journalist who has lived and worked on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for more than 25 years. He’s passionate about fighting for a better go for locals. His awards include APN Editor of the Year, and involvement in three PANPA Newspaper of the Year wins for the Sunshine Coast Daily.

"He did it one hour after Peter Burke had terminated his wife's employment at the party for reasons best known to them, but that's not what it's about. It's about ideas and protecting the people of Australia.

"Certainly the hundreds of thousands of people that voted for him, really voted for our party at the last election, he had an obligation to carry out the policies that they voted for.

"It's disappointing that he didn't weigh that up."

Since the party formed six weeks before the Federal election in 2013, the sitting members have dropped from nine down to two.
When quizzed on the ABC about the future of the party, Mr Palmer said they still had a strong membership.
"We've gone from 600members up to 10,000 members in our party. The members most of those were joined us from other parties. There's been two members elected under our banner which have left," he said.
"You've got to realise trying to create a third force in politics in Australia when you've got a two-party system and the Liberal Party and the Labor Party are trying to undermine us every day is very difficult.
As for Lazurus's comments on the Palmer United Party 'teamwork' problems, Palmer had this to say:
"The team is me and Dio Wang and Dio is happy and I'm happy, so that's the majority of the team that's happy.
He's voted in favour of everything. He must be referring to his wife I think."

Clive Palmer loses key ally as Glenn Lazarus quits PUP

RICH Sunshine Coast MP Clive Palmer has lost more power in the Senate after key combatant Glenn Lazarus quit the Palmer United Party.

The former footballer and one of Mr Palmer's key figureheads announced he had resigned from PUP in a statement on his website.

Mr Lazarus led PUP's Senate team for Queensland.

"I have today resigned from the Palmer United Party," Senator Glenn Lazarus said.

"This was a difficult decision.

"I have a different view of team work. Given this, I felt it best that I resign from the party and pursue my Senate role as an independent.

Clive Palmer, Glenn Lazarus and his wife Tess at Buderim Mountain State School on voting day.

"I am deeply grateful to Clive Palmer for the opportunity to be involved in the party.

"I sincerely wish Clive and his family all the very best for the future.

"I will miss working with my esteemed colleague Senator Dio Wang.

"I am determined to do my best in representing, and being a voice for, the people of Queensland in the Australian Federal Parliament."

Senator Lazarus' decision will put greater focus on Mr Palmer's ability to run PUP given his apparent failure to maintain a team of people behind him.

Since the last election, Tasmanian senator Jacquie Lambie also quit the party and now sits as an independent.

Read the full statement on the Senator's resignation from Palmer United Party by national director Peter Burke:

It is disappointing for the thousands of members of the Palmer United Party that individuals have put their personal interests ahead of party priorities and what can be achieved for Australia.

Regardless of the individual demands within the party, the Palmer United Party will stay true to its beliefs.

Early yesterday afternoon, I forwarded a letter to Tess Lazarus terminating her employment from the party.

This was done primarily because she failed to comply with the terms of her employment.

Senator Lazarus' resignation followed thereafter, with the reason being self-evident.

I note from his statement his reasons were not related to political matters or to the duty he had to promote the party policy and to support its platform, its membership and the thousands of Queenslanders who trusted him to stay strong to these values having elected him to the Senate.

The party made the correct decision in terminating Tess Lazarus' employment. It is disappointing that politicians put their personal interests above those who elect them.